Smoker to 10K Runner In 6 Months!!!

Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance to those who take the time to read!

I never would have thought I would ever run a race, EVER. But here I sit having finished my first official race, a 10K.

I smoked for years, 25 of them to be exact. I must have quit 1000 times and failed 999 of those times. I had been working out for a few months when I decided I needed to try again. So on April 28th this year I smoked my last cigarette. I have never looked back. My friends smoking doesn't bother me, having a few beers doesn't bother me. I just wanted to be done this time and I was done. I will never be a Non-Smoker but I will continue to be a ex-smoker.

After I finished Insanity (while I was smoking) I didn't know what to do next. It was heading into summer time, softball season, cycling season, grilling, basically everything outdoors and I didn't want another in house/gym routine. I found a C25K app and loaded it onto my iPhone. Got a heart rate monitor and started running. It is more a a chunky butt shuffle, but its running to me.

I cruised through the summer almost finishing the C25K app before I had the thought, "what will I do next?" So I deleted the C25K app and loaded the 10K bridge version. A friend of mine at work who has been a runner almost their entire life sent me the info for a race they were running. I was wishy washy for a few weeks before I signed up for the 10K race. So now there was NO reason for me not to run. Well I came across a few. I over-trained a bit and ended up with a pretty bad plantar facaiitis. I spent a week sleeping in a boot and wearing arch straps to work. With only a week before the race and healed feet I started coming down with a cold. So yesterday, the day before my race, I ended up in the doctors office getting antibiotics for a severe cold with an ear infection.

Today, Race Day, I get up and head out to greet the day and the first official race of my 39 years of life. I gathered all my necessary running paraphernalia and I was off. I found myself standing in 34 degree weather so excited I couldn't feel anything! My only goal for today was to run the entire time/distance. And I did just that. For the first time in my life I ran 6.21 miles!!! And my thoughts went like this...

Mile 1 - Why did I agree to do this. And why am I doing this with a severe cold and ear infection. I feel like crap.

Mile 2 - My ears popped and my nose began to run. I can do this. I will run until I get to 3 miles at least.

Mile 3 - "Ice, Ice Baby too cold..." Yep that was what Pandora was playing as I passed the 3 mile mark.

Mile 4 - Hey I'm at mile 4 and still running!!! I can do 2 more miles easy!

Mile 5 - Just before the 5 mile marker some of the homeowners were passing out Bud Light shots. Man it was awesome!

Male 6 - Really?!?! I just RAN 6 miles???

Finish Line - I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!!!!! I ran the entire race!!!! It took me officially 1:28:39. But that doesn't matter

I always heard running was addictive and I sort of laughed thinking that can't be right. When I got home I started looking for another race to sign up for!!!! Looks like I'm hooked!